Fire-direction apparatus for naval guns



IA LSJQI.

W. AKEMANN.

FIRE DIRECTION APPARATUS FOR NAVAL-GUNS.

' FILED NOV-10,1920.

Patented res; 13, was.

siren eam; e

castes,

WALTHER AKEMANN; or ESSEN, enamanr, ASSIGNOR To rmnn. mwrr AKTIEN- 'ensnnnsonarr, or nssnn-on-rnn-aona, GERMANY.

FIRE-DIRECTION APPARATUS IQR- NAVAL eons.

Application filed Noyember 10, 1920. Serial No. 423,118.

To all whom it may concerm.

4 Be itknown that I, Wamwnnn Arrmininn, residing at Essen, Germany; a oitizenof the .German Republic, have invented a certain new and-useful Improvement in Fire-Dimetipn Appa'ratusfor Na-val Guns, of which the following is a specifications 'The' present invention relates to fire con- I trol apparatus for naval guns which are provided with electric devices for firing at a distance, so that the guns may be fired not only with the ship at rest, but also when the ship pitches hard. For this purpose fire control apparatus of known design is provided -s-'ith adevice which makes it possible to close the firing circuit at an instant, which lies an amount of time ahead of the moment when the pitching. ship passes through its horizontal position, said timeamount corresponding to the given firing-retardation.

-The subject matterof the invent-ion re-v sides in a fire cont-rol apparatus of known art with improvements for measuring and indicating the angular speed of the pitching of the ship, so that the pie-ignition angle may be constantly adapted .to thechanges of the angulai' speed of the pitching, said preignt.

tion angle corresponding to the above named amount of time. The device for distance firing may also be accurately inserted at the instant which lies ahead of the "moment when --the projectile has to leave the gun,'an amount of time ecj'ualto the required pre-ignition A 'angle corresponding to the angular velocity of pitching. A further advantage of the' invention resides in the fact that this. instant is independent of whether the ship pitches upwards or downwards, so that firing may take .place in both directions of pitching, when the ship passes through its horizontal position, whereby a considerable increase in the firing speed, is attained.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrate'd on the drawing in i Fig. 1, which shows a diagrammatic rep- "resent-ation of the fire control apparatus,'and

Fig. 2, a modification of one tails. a

- The embodiment represented in Fig.1, will'first be.described, where the fire control apparatus consists mainly of three widely separated devices denoted by Roman figures I, III, and IV in the'figure and connected of the de- Fig; 1. The \device Ifa-nd II in Fig. 1, 'for measuring and distance transmission of the angular speed of the pitching, comprises a' fixed stanllA, a member (0 revolvable around the perpendicular axis of the stand when the ship is zitrestQby means of a'pivot a; and

also a gyrosgo'pe housing a containing a firing gy-roscdpe which is oscillatable upon the membera around a horizontal axis with the ship at rest. The housing a has in general a spherical shape. It is provided with a tooth rack a on its under side, in mesh with a worm a mounted in the revolvable member (L The worm 0? receives its motion from a motor A which is also placed on the revolvable member a. To rotate the memher a around the axis of the pivot a, is provided a driving shaft B with a hand wheel Z), positively connected with the member 0 by means of a pair of. bevel wheels 12 a and a worm geara a, said shaft B being mountcated on the drawing. For reading the training giyen the member'a is provided a drum [1 keyed fast upon the driving shaft B and the cooperating index finger b. In the gyroscope housing a are revolvably mounted two coaxial shafts a secured on the gyroscope frame 11- T lie-shafts a penetrate on both sides through the gyroscope housing a" and carry two telescopes o and a with parallel; sight lines, upon'the ends extending through the housing. The telescope a is intended to keep the horizon'in sight, while the other 0 serves as the principal range telescope; The

gyroscope a mounted in the frame a f and revolvable around a vertical axis whilejthe ship israt rest is of well known construction.

Anelectric motor (not. show-n) is provided particularly for driving the gyroscope a.

- I The. gyroscope housing a is-proyided with an. enlargement (L on the slde nearest the telescope. Li In this enlargement w are enclosed small dynamo comprising a magnet field a and an armature a", and a transmittal" of a device for distance transmission of the angular position, said transmitter alsocomprising a magnet field (r and. anarmature a. Both theiarma-v ture a and the -mature 1 are keyed to the telescope shatta. By. means of 'also between tlw transmitter armature If and its magnet field a. On the shaft 1/ a re further provided two slip rings 4*" which are connected with the ends of the winding: of the dynamwarmatnre a". .Against the slip rings (0 press hrushes r/-'-".'\\'hich are intended to collect the induction current from the armature a". With. constant strength of annagnct field of". the tension between the two slip rings (1 becomes directly proportionate to the angular velocity of the armature a" as regards the magnet field 11 and consequel'itly also with the angular velocity with which the gyroscooe housing (0 turns as regards the gyroscope Frame (1. As,- however, the first named angular velocil'y coincides with the ships pitching: ai'ignlar velocity, then 'the tension present at the brushes, constitute a direct measure of the angular velocity of the pitching ot the ship' 0n the inner wall ot the gyroscope housing (1 is provided'a contact tongue 10"".

situated in a firing circuit, described herein- --t,\vo contact tongues form with each, other and as a consequence also the moment in Which the firing circuit is closed. determined.

VVith' the driving sha l t ll intended for the setting of the sidedirceti'on' is connected still another device 'l'or distance transmission of the side-direction vor transvorsingr angle, said device being" constructed for coarse and line adjustment in well known manner. This device consists mainly oi tworevolvable ari'natures (l and l) within corresponding' magnet fields C and D, said armatures being positively connected with the driving shaft B through the intermediary of a pair of bcvel gears I) F) c in such manner that the entire adjustment extent of the drum 7) corresponds to a single revolution of the armature D and several revolutions of the armature (l. The magnet fields 0' and D are'revolvable around the axes of the armatnres (J and D; The magnet fields are adjusted by a shaft}? provided with a hand Wheel a and positively connected to the magnet, fields C and D by a Worm Wheel gearing e (1 and a spur Wheel gearing e203. f

. The gear ratios of the gems d and a e have been so selected that the'ratio' of the rent may be collected by revolving speed. of the magnet field I) in relation to that o-tthe magnet field (l isthti same as the ratio ofthe revolving speed of the 'armatures I) ind C. A scale drum e hcyed upon the shaft E, together with the pointer c serve to read the angular position given the magnet fields. Thelast described contrivance servesto vary the 'sidedirection or traversing angles to which the coarsetransmitter D D" and the fine transmitter C havebeen adjusted, without turning the member re? and with it the gyroscope: housing 1: around its vertical axis. that means without having to move the sight telesco'w of out ot its direction on the target.

he device, shown atlll Fig. 1, erected on the ('Ulllllltllldlllg' ofticers stand contains first a transmitter tor distance lransmission of lllt tlll'tlllllg angle vto the gun to he pointed. The transmittingarmature of this 'transn'sitter is formed by a' eylinder l3" covered with 'lamellze and tree'ly revolvahle ,around a shaft l. These lamellae are electrically connected with the individual steps of a. resistance coil l excited by a direct current source. l pon the lalncllar surfaces of the transmitter armature F rest three brushes f" disposed 120 from each other and connected by means of comluctors f with a receiver-motor G erected at the gun, Fig. l. The armature of this motor is positively connected with the toothed arc of the elevating gear'in the manner shown at IV. This contrivance makes it possible to give the gun H the elevation corresponding: to the range by turning the transmitter armatnrc F. t driving shatt provided with a hand wheel 2" serves to turn the armature F by means of a hovel gear train 17" f f in the manner shown at ll]. v The elevating setting given to the armature l and, through it; to the gun ll may he .read oli' on'a range drum if and a pointer i holong'ing thereto, said drum being keyed to the shaft 3.

The transmitter contrivance comprises Inorevocr a transmitter for distance adjustment to the pro-igniting angle of the housing (1 and, through it, of the control tongue of of the tiring wheel, said angle corresponding to the angular. siliced'of the 'p-itelf This transmittericonsists, similarly to ing.

of an armature the one already described K ted by direct current ti coils. and from which a multiple phase Curmeans of three slide brushes K set 120" apart. From the slide brushes K connectionconductors lead to the receiver motor A, Whiehserves to drive the gyroscope .honsing 0 around its axis. that is horizontal during the SlyP S pOSItIQH.

o t rest. The transmitter armature K driven by a'hand wheel M through intermediaryv gears the object and arrangement of which will he described hereinafter.

The scale disc N has also positivedriving ironsrh resistance.

several CJI } index N revolvable in relation to, the scale disc N. This index N condtitutes-a portion of the indicating device for-the ships pitch ing' angular ve ocity For this purposejit' is secured on a rotatable coil n Which has electrical connection through conductors a and (1 'ivill'be closed upon switching in of with the slide brushes a' inserl'fed'in the extensiona of the gyroscope ho sing a The deflection of the index N in either direc- 'tion does consequently constitute a measure for the speed of the relative movement bet-ween the armature-a" and the magnet field a of the. dynamo situated in the yro -f scope housing and as aconsequence a so a measure for the ships pitching angular'velocity.

The inde/I. N and its mark n form simultaneously two contacts ofthe already mentioned firing circuit which also contains a conductor vi a battery N, a two poled switchN a conductor n with the coil n of a firing magnet, as well as the contact tonguesa and (I23 connected with conductors a It is now so arranged that the firing circuit containing the contact tongues a the switch N as soon as the contacttongues (L22 and (L23 touch, when the angular positions of the indeXN' and the mark n 'coincide.

The driving shaft m for the disc N provided with the hand wheel M carries on its free end a friction disc m cooperating with a second disc 1), which is secured on the end of a revolvable and displaceable shaft ,P. i pon this shaft P is keyed a spur gear p of such a width, that it cooperates with a spur gear 72 keyed on an intermediary shaft 7), in all positions of the shaft-.P. The intermediary shaft 11 carries in addition a bevel gear 12", which is in mesh with a bevel gear 7: on a shaft M. This shaft Z1 carries on its end,"bentout at right angles a loose runnin'g bevel gear is which turnswith-thcshaft 7.? and, a consequence, cooperates with a bevel gear is keyed uponthe shaft of armature K. For displacing the shaft P,

together with the friction disc 7) relatively to t'he friction disc m a tooth rack 19? 1s provided which is connected. througha coupling with the shaft P and is in mesh with a pinion p having an operating crank-p The displacement of the shaft: P makes it possible to change the ratio of the gearing. intended for driving the transmitterK and the displacement of the contact'tongues-fi? and (1. This device is used when it is necessary to change the pro-ignition \Vl'llCh corresponds to the angular velocity of pitchingto agree with alteration. of muzzle velocity of the projectil'e'or'the inertia of "the firing magnet.

Atjthe commanding ofiicers stand is to be found still another. contrivance which p'ermitsof firing-under continuous inclination of the ship, th'at is when the ship does not pass through its horizontal position, this firing then. taking; place when passing through a middle inclined position which difl'ersfr omthe horizontal position by a certain amount,the. so called heeling angle. For this purpose is first provided a pitching angle in'dibaton'which'is conveniently posi- 'tionedso as to be seen by the gunner who 'attends'to the hand-wheel 2" for elevating" the gun The pitching' angle indicator com 'sistsof-areceiver'armathre 1' with which an index Q, revolvableupon a fixed'scale disc Q shows Whether the ship passes through the'horizontal position during the pitching or not. By means of'conductors qfl the receiver armature-g" is connected with the.

magnet field a- 'of the transmitter arranged on the firing gyroscope a in such a'man'ner that the index Q reproduces accurately the angular j-pitching movement of the magnet .field 0, i v

Near the. pitchingyangle indicator c Q latter is in mesh with a spur gear f on the one hand 'and-with a spur gear 7g on the other hand.' The spur gear 1'? isniounte'd nected with the bevel wheel is, with which bevel pinion k is in mesh. This pinion [s meshes onthe other hand with the bevel gear is, upon the shaft of which the trans:

angles from the'shaft 70 which latter runs 'is placed a shaft R having-a hand wheel 1" upon which is mounted a spur gear 1?. The

upon the shaft 1, one end of which being;v

provided with an arm at right angles which 'arm carries the spur-gear f. The spur gear 70 is by means of a hollow shaft is "con-l loo through the hollow shaft k and carries the above named bevel gear 71; at its other epd. It IS consequently so arranged that. a rotation of the hand wheel 7" influences the revolving speed of t-he transmitter armatures F and IQand in the same direction through the bevel e a'rs f f and In. It is therefore possifie to transmit both to the armature F and to the armature K an additional rotation corresponding. to the deflection oi" v the index" Q iindependentpf Whether the hand wheels M and havea-lrea'dy been moved ornot. v i

A receiver-contrivance for coarse and fine "settingof the side'direct on is provided on thegun, see: at IV, Fig. 1,. beside theelevating motorG' andthe firing magnet n. This receiver contrivance may be'constructed inaccordance with my Patent 1,166,034 dated December 15th, 1915. The coarse-receiverS, constructed as a drum is connected through conductors a with. the transmitter field I) provided at the gyroscope station; and the similarly constructed fine-receiver lfi connected through conductors s" with the. transmitter field t", in such a manner that hoth reproduce the relative movement her tween the armatures C and I) and their corresponding magnet fields C and D accurately as to the angles. For reading the setting there provided for each an angular graduation upon the dial suriace (not shown) and a fixed reading mark. In the immediate neighborhood of the receiver-indicator "contrivance are to he found two dials S and S exactly like the dials S" and S also provided with similar angular graduation (not shown) and which dials have iositive drivin connection with the l" toothed wheel T. The gun is trained in azimuth by hand by means (not shown), the readings ot the dials S" Sibeing kept in coincidence with those,of the dials S 3 intended for laying the gun in azimuth.

In describing the manner of operation it will he supposed that the parts from the. start have the relative position shown. lt will furthermore he supposed that the ship is in a horizontal floating position. By first turning the handwheel 7) the revolvablc memher a? with gyroscoi'ie housing it is rotated on its pivot (1 until the telescope a? directed towards the target. Through the intermediary ol' the gear train and electrical transmitters B 7) (7 H 11 (l l) C D s s" which serves for distance adjustment of the side direction (traversing). the drums S and S (at IV) partake in the rotation of the handwheel F) in such a manner that they turn the same angle as the gyroscope lions ing whereby the side direction against the target may he connnunicatcd to the gun. A correction of the side direction. in order for instance to take care of the drift of the projectile or the horizontal difi'erence ht tween the position of the gun and the gyroscope may he accomplished by turning the hand wheel 0'. which causes a displacement of the transmitter fields and D. without that the gun looses its direction towards the target. (at'll l) is turned until the'g'un ll, c .inected therewith hy means of the gear train and electrical transmitters J i" 7' l f f G, has received the required elevation corresponding to the range. As soon as the gun in this manner has been directed upon the target by elevation and training. it may at anytime he fired through the closing of the switch N ii the ship lies still.

Should however. the gun. in the above named manner directed against the target by elevating and training. have to he fired at the moment of passing through its horizontal position when the ship pitches, then Fiimultancously the hand wheel 2'" the firing circuit must be closed at a moment which lies a certain interval ahead of the moment at which the ship reaches its horizontal floating position, independent of whether the pitching of the ship takes place sidered as a constant quantity, and as a result, the above named interval is directly proportionate to the continuously changing angular pitchingvelocity.

In accordance with the above, the friction disc 7). while the ship is pitching, is first adjusted by turning the crank 29 so that the gear ratio of the changed gearing. formed by the discs m p, exactly expresses the firing retardation. Thereupon the graduation disc N is constantly adjusted by turning the hand wheel. M, so that the mark n agrees continuously with the index N. Through the intermediary of the gear train and electrical transmitters 'm 39 mg a} with the contact tongue (1, rigidly connected thereto partake in the turning of the driving shaft in in. such a manner that they move downwards during upward pitching and vice versa:

As the rotating angle of the shaft m during the above mentioned turning isalways proportionate to the pitching angle velocity and .the change m )9 correctly 6X presses the firing retardation. it then follows that the. rotating angle of the transmitter K and with it also the contact. tongue (i is always proporionate to the product of the firing retardation and the pitching angle velocity.

The additional rotation given theindex N through the last mentioned displacement of the housing (0". is generally so small that it is permissible to neglect it. It may. however. also he completely eliminated by arranging t'or instance the magnet field a upon a part which does not partake in the setting movement of the cont-act tongue (i upon such a part. for instance, as a. stand rigidly fastened to" the ships deck.

\Vhen the mark n coincides with the index N. electric contact will simultaneously he established hetween. these parts, so that the firing circuit fed from the..-hattery N will he closed at this place. It now the switch N is c-losedawliile the pitching 45 tardatioiiaiid ofthe variable pitching angle tsesaoi tongues a and 11 at the instant which member M. The projectile therefore leaves enactly expre es the pro-igniting angle given the contact tongue a by the driving the muzzle of the gun at the exact moment :when the ship reaches its horizontal floatin position. r

in case the ship should not happen to pass the horizontal floati position during. its -pitching as often happens, but that instead the pitching takes silacearound a position of rest which diifers from the horizontalpo'sition by a heeling angle i a, then this inclined position of the ship must be takeninto, account both as regardsthe distance transmitting contrivance asalso' with regard toj-the firing gyroscope.

For this purpose the hand wheel 42' at the commanding ofiicersstand, has to be turned until the gun has attained an'elevationthrough the intermediary of the gear'train .R 7' f,

F B F f f G, thatequals the ele'vating angle corresponding to "the-range, plus (or minus) the heeling angle-q of-the ship;" and until also the housing a has obtained such a rotation,.by means of the gear train and electrical transmitters R r is 711 .10 10 is .K k k A, that the index Q- of the pitching angle indicator also is rotated an'angle i aasregards a horizontal plane. Ifnow the pix-: igniting angle, which corresponds to the existing-pitching angular velocity, is adjusted following between the index N w and the mark a by. means of the hand wheel M, then the projectile must leave rthe gunmuzzle at the instant the 'Sl'lip',p8.SS6S its 'positi'onof rest, in other words, at thatinat an elevat stant when the gun is inclined ing angle which corresponds tothe range i the heeling angle a as regards the ships deck, thatis the elevating angle as regards the horizontal plane;

The. independence of-the pro-igniting angle both of the magnitude of the firing revelocity may also-be attained in a different manner'than by means of aIcha-nge gear formed by adjustable friction discs.

If, namely, (see Fig. 2) in the-circuit a leading from series a fixed resistance the rotating coil of the velocity index, the

magnitude of said resistance being cliangeable according to the position of a control lever a corresponding to the adjustment of the firing. retardation; and if, furthermore, the rotating coil (1 being connected in closed'parallel circuit, being shunted across variable resistance (1 from. one end of said resistance to the fulcrum of contactlever a", then the index (not shown) does no longer give the value of the pitching angle gular v'elocit upon the firing gyroscope, by correct,

the slip brushes a on thegyroscope casing, there being inserted in and a variable resistance a, instead of d rectlyinserting casing therefor, a firing circuit, a

yelocity, -b ut,instead directly that of the product of the pitching angle velocity and of the firing retardation. v

This product must, however, has al-' ready, been'-explained,'lie proportionate to the pi'e ignition angle, to be set on the/firing gyroscope It is therefore sufficient to turn the hand wheel M, compare Fig. 1 'at'III, so that the markre -remains constantly in coin-' 'cid ence-With' the index N. By means of the shaft m, which is supposed to be directly ronnected with the shaft is? through its extension, that rotationwill then always be comprising a stabilizing device, means for maybe utilmeasuring and indicating the pitching anmanually ad usting the pre-ignition angle corresponding to the indications .of. the measuring and indicating means, said first named means being. connected to'and operatable by the. stabilizing device.

ofthe ship and means'for 2. A fire control apparatus of'the" class described for naval guns comprising a stabilizingdevi'ce supporting a sighting telescope, a casing for said stabilizing device, a firing circuit, a pair offiring tongues ii terpo'sed in said circuit, one of said firing tongues being supported-by said casing and the other by said stabilizingdevice, means for measuring the pitching angular velocityof the, ship, said means being connected to 1;

and operatable by the stabilizing device and means cooperatable with said pitching angular .velocity measuring means operably connected to the first mentione'd firing tongue for setting'the proper ignition angle.-

3. A fire control apparatus for naval guns I i comprisingja stabilizing device, a casing therefor, a firing circuit, a pain of firing tongues interposed in said circuit, oneof said firing tonguesbeing supported by said vice, means for indicatingthe pitchingangular velocity of the ship, said means being connected to and operatable by" the stabilize llll casing and the other bysai'd stabilizing dev ing (leviceaiid meanslcooper'ating' Withsaid pitching angular velocity indicating means for adjusting the first mentioned tongue-to correspond to its readings.

gt. A- fire control apparatus of the class described comprising a stabilizing device aing tongues interposed in said circuit, one

air f r- 13 of said firing tongues taking part in the pitching movement of the ship, means for indicating the pitching angular velocity ot the ship. said means being operatively connected to the' stabilizing device, a trailer a-iiiiipi'isiiig a stabilizing device, a tiring circuit, a pair of tiring tongues interposed in said cir :uit,one of said firing tongues being stabilized by said stabilizing device, the other oi said liring tongues taking part in the roliing'i'novement of the ship, means for indicating the pitching angular velocity of the ship, said means being connected to and operatable by the stz'ibilizing device, said means being provided with a pointer, a cohpcrating trailer adjustable to correspond to the reading of said pointer, means tor adjusting said trailer, said means being connectcdtp the second mentioned firing tongue by'an electrical long distance transmission, said pointer and trailer being included in said firing circuit.

A. the control apparatus of the class described com irising a stabilizing device. a shaft therefor. a casing for said stabilizdevice which takes part in the rolling ,i'no .cn'ient ot-thc ship, means for indicating the pitching angular velocity of the. ship-said means being controlled by the stabilizing device. means for indicating the pitchii'ig angle. a i'nagnet system carried by said casing, an armature supported upon the shaft of the stabilizing device, a receivor fo ming a part of the pitching angle indicating means. said magnet system, armature and receiver forming a part of an electrical long distance transmission for operating said pitching angle indicator.

7. A. lire control apparatus of the class described comprising a stabilizing device,

a casing therefor. a pair of firing tongues.

a, circuit including said firing tongues, one

- of Said firing tongues being supported by said casing, the other of said tiring tongues being controlled by said stabilizing device, means for indicating the pitching angular velocity of the ship, said n'ieaus'beii'ig controlled by the stabilizing device, a trailer cooperating with the first mentioned indieating means. an operating member for adjusting said trailer. a transmitter operativcl connected to said operating member. said transmitter forming part-of an electrical long distance transmission for adjusting tbc tiring tongue mounted upon the stabilizing device casin a pitching angle indicator. and: means for additionally ad justing the transmitter to correspond to the reading of the pitching angle indicator.

'8. A fire control apparatus of the class described comprising a stablizing'device. a casing thcrc'lor. a pair of tiring tongues. a firing circuit including said tongues. one of said tongues being supported by said casing. means for indicating the pitching angular velocity of the ship. said means being provided with a pointer. a cooperating trailer mark adjustable for coincidence with said pointer. an operating member for said trailer. a transmitter. means inch ding a change speed gearing for connecting said operating member to said transmitter, a receiver motor opcratively connected to the stabilizing device casing. means electrically connecting said transmitter and receiver motor. whereby said casing ma be moved to adjust the tiring tongue carried thereby.

9. f fire control apparatus of the class described comprisii'ig a stabilizing device. a casingtherefor. a pair of firing tongues. a firing circuit including said tongues. oneol' said tongues being supported by said casing,

means tor indicating tbc pitchin g angular velocty ol' theship. said means being provided with a pointer, a cooperating pointer, an operating member tor said pointer. a transmitter. means including a change speed gearing for connecting said operating-memher to said transmitter. said change speed gearing comprising a pair of friction discs. one oi said friction discs being adjustable radially of the other. a receiver motor operativcly connected to the casing of the stabilizing device, said receiver motor and transmitter being operativcly connected and forming an electrical long distance transmission, \vhereb v upon adjustment of the pointer the casing of the stabilizing device may be moved toadjnst the tiring tongue to the pre-ignitionangle. Q

The foregoing specification signed at Essen, Germany, this 16th day of June 1920.

in presence ot.'

HANS (iU'lTSMAXN. .losnr (human. 

